murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē How to pronounce murky (audio)
Definition of murkynext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight

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2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the murky shadows of the cemetery

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3
as in hazy
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west

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4
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning a murky reply to a question about his intentions

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5
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of murky Still, many details of the outbreak remain murky, largely due to the vague recall information Taylor Farms has publicly provided. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 Here are details on the bright, sunshine-in-a-glass pineapple juices, as well as the murky brown juices to leave on the shelf. — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 20 July 2026 The order attempts to stop weapons makers from working with certain foreign suppliers of concern, including China — which has been a long-standing issue for the complicated and oftentimes murky defense and manufacturing supply chains. — Riley Beggin, Washington Post, 20 July 2026 The process has been murky for companies that have tried to launch powerful new models in the interim. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for murky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murky
  1. darkened
  2. dark
  3. hazy
  4. ambiguous
  5. vague
  6. bleak
  7. misty
  8. cryptic
Adjective
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • Skywatchers should find dark locations and look north, as the aurora's intensity also hinges on the solar wind's magnetic field orientation.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • And in a dark time for the world, a magnificent tournament helped make the world feel a little smaller.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Then we’re yanked into Louis’s hazy POV, from which Armand is reading another one of his apology letters.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Under a red condition, the sky can look hazy and smoky, visibility drops and the air may smell like smoke.
    — Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 19 July 2026
Definition of hazy
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, who qualifies for the Robinhood Platinum Card is a little ambiguous.
    — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 23 July 2026
  • Many leaders in the late 18th century already considered privateering a morally ambiguous practice, according to Michael Crawford, a former senior historian at the Naval History and Heritage Command.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • But the recall list was vague, not providing consumers with information on where the lettuce was sold or how consumers could avoid it.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
  • Recently, the Montgomery County, Maryland, school district made local headlines after officials required administrators to review student newspapers prior to publication and outright censor certain reports based on vague standards.
    — Annabelle Garland, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Before yesterday’s vote, the prospects for BPC-157 appeared bleak.
    — Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • Recent headlines about technology jobs have often presented a bleak outlook.
    — Felysha Walker, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • At Emporio Armani, models walked the runway in gossamer-thin tanks and misty trousers that toed the line between lavender and blue.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 June 2026
  • Base yourself in Cerro Verde or Lago de Coatepeque for crater views and misty mornings above the clouds, then climb Santa Ana Volcano.
    — Angelika Pokovba, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2026
Definition of misty
Adjective
  • At first, these data would be cryptic—who besides the biggest air-pollution nerd would know the difference between 35 μg/m3 of particulate matter (yellow-level risk, per the AQI) and 60 μg/m3 (red-level risk)?
    — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • As Miami gained steam in the LeBron market behind Pat Riley’s cryptic public optimism, the Heat and Cavaliers continually flip-flopped as the DraftKings favorite to land LeBron during the week leading up to James’ eventual decision.
    — Scott Phillips, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of cryptic

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murky
murmur
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Cite this Entry

“Murky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murky. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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